Rating: 
Summary: Thank you, Edith Layton, for another gem
Review: After finishing The Duke's Wager, I read a few other things and then returned to this 2-in-1 Layton volume to read Lord of Dishonour. I can't decide which book I preferred - both are so splendidly written with beautifully crafted prose and intricate stories. However, like the Duke's Wager, Lord of Dishonour is character-driven and the author is outstanding at giving us men and women who are believeable whilst being both difficult and loveable. The conflict in the story is really quite fundamental - are we what we make of ourselves in life or are we purely the result of how others see us, forever quantified by social strictures?In this book, we have two people from less than "traditional" or "acceptable" backgrounds. The hero, Viscount ("Vice Count") North, and the heroine, Lady Amanda Amberley, come from that risque sector of Regency life made up of "legitimate" illegitimates, the product of husbands and wives going their separate ways following the birth of an unquestionable and unimpeachable heir. Lack of divorce meant that social leaders like the Duke of Devonshire and Lady Harley (The Harleian Miscellaney) got away with it but this book examines the effect on the innocent results - the offspring. Viscount North is a many layered character, a man of immense talent, charm and innate goodwill who is close to squandering it all for what are, in the end, really quite honourable reasons. Lady Amanda is a young woman who feels she has been driven to the edges of acceptability and is so desperate for the veneer of respectability that she looks for love in the wrong places and very nearly misses out on the opportunity for a relationship of courage, honour, loyalty, love and mutual understanding. How these two overcome their personal circumstances makes for a rewarding story. Only one criticism - it is not and never has been the case under English law that an adoptee can inherit a title; they can inherit unentailed lands and income but never a title which must descend through direct bloodlines. This error is unfortunate because the story is predicated on bending the rules but I forgive the author - she is such a delight to read that I overlooked it. Besides, no doubt more than a few aristocrats did get away with a scenario much like this book!
Rating:
Summary: Classic Regencies from a Great Author
Review: I have been a fan of Edith Layton since the original publication of 'The Duke's Wager' in the mid 1980's. I was blown away the first time I read this book, especially since it came from a first-time Regency author. I'm pleased to see Signet reissuing two of the best stories ever written by anyone and certainly my two favorites by this author. Both of these are original, well-written books that would be worth twice the price singley. Here you get 2 great books for the price of one! 'The Duke's Wager' features the Duke of Torquay, a hero to die for, in pursuit of a beautiful, poor woman without family to protect her. He discovers that not the love OF a good woman will redeem him but the love FOR a good woman. 'Lord of Dishonour' has a handsome but decadent hero who is living down to his expectations of himself, based on what he believes to be true about his family. Through the machinations of the heroine's mother, he becomes engaged to a virtuous maiden who is determined NOT to live down to the expectations of society which are based on her mother's past. How these two grow as people and develop respect and love for each other is truly a beautiful story. I highly recommend both of thes books!
Rating:
Summary: A Tour de Force
Review: I've only just finished the first book in this 2 volume edition -"The Duke's Wager". I was deeply moved by this story - it was not the usual Regency novel - it was dark, deep and difficult - sometimes almost painful to read. Others have summarised the plot (and the very few faults which appear) and pointed out the main area of conflict betwen two seemingly similar but ultimately different men. From the start I was attracted to the "Black Duke". Very recently I read an outstanding new biography published in the UK of the 2nd Earl of Rochester by Cephas Goldsworthy ("The Satyr"). Lord Rochester is best known as a Restoration Poet and is given a bit of coverage to high school students. However, what your teacher never told you was that he was not only a poet but a rake, debauchee (possibly bi-sexual), pornographer in chief to Charles II, sufferer of syphillis and a man bent on self-destruction who was redeemed on his deathbed (I think) by his love of life, the arts, women and the passions of friendship. The character of the Duke of Torquay in many facets of his personality, attitudes and experiences put me in mind of Rochester. However, Torquay is able to redeem himself before sinking into the abyss of total despair, self-loathing and possibly, even, a prolonged and ugly death from venereal disease. How he does this is the core of the novel. That the heroine was able to allow and encourage him to do it made me admire her when at first I despaired of her good qualities. I have found a copy of "The Disdainful Marquis" and will now read that to see if the Marquis of Bessacarr is able to put his experiences in this story to his advantage. A well written, passionate, deep and unusual story. I am so glad I read it - thank you, Edith Layton!
Rating:
Summary: A Tour de Force
Review: I've only just finished the first book in this 2 volume edition -"The Duke's Wager". I was deeply moved by this story - it was not the usual Regency novel - it was dark, deep and difficult - sometimes almost painful to read. Others have summarised the plot (and the very few faults which appear) and pointed out the main area of conflict betwen two seemingly similar but ultimately different men. From the start I was attracted to the "Black Duke". Very recently I read an outstanding new biography published in the UK of the 2nd Earl of Rochester by Cephas Goldsworthy ("The Satyr"). Lord Rochester is best known as a Restoration Poet and is given a bit of coverage to high school students. However, what your teacher never told you was that he was not only a poet but a rake, debauchee (possibly bi-sexual), pornographer in chief to Charles II, sufferer of syphillis and a man bent on self-destruction who was redeemed on his deathbed (I think) by his love of life, the arts, women and the passions of friendship. The character of the Duke of Torquay in many facets of his personality, attitudes and experiences put me in mind of Rochester. However, Torquay is able to redeem himself before sinking into the abyss of total despair, self-loathing and possibly, even, a prolonged and ugly death from venereal disease. How he does this is the core of the novel. That the heroine was able to allow and encourage him to do it made me admire her when at first I despaired of her good qualities. I have found a copy of "The Disdainful Marquis" and will now read that to see if the Marquis of Bessacarr is able to put his experiences in this story to his advantage. A well written, passionate, deep and unusual story. I am so glad I read it - thank you, Edith Layton!
Rating:
Summary: A Tour de Force
Review: I've only just finished the first book in this 2 volume edition -"The Duke's Wager". I was deeply moved by this story - it was not the usual Regency novel - it was dark, deep and difficult - sometimes almost painful to read. Others have summarised the plot (and the very few faults which appear) and pointed out the main area of conflict betwen two seemingly similar but ultimately different men. From the start I was attracted to the "Black Duke". Very recently I read an outstanding new biography published in the UK of the 2nd Earl of Rochester by Cephas Goldsworthy ("The Satyr"). Lord Rochester is best known as a Restoration Poet and is given a bit of coverage to high school students. However, what your teacher never told you was that he was not only a poet but a rake, debauchee (possibly bi-sexual), pornographer in chief to Charles II, sufferer of syphillis and a man bent on self-destruction who was redeemed on his deathbed (I think) by his love of life, the arts, women and the passions of friendship. The character of the Duke of Torquay in many facets of his personality, attitudes and experiences put me in mind of Rochester. However, Torquay is able to redeem himself before sinking into the abyss of total despair, self-loathing and possibly, even, a prolonged and ugly death from venereal disease. How he does this is the core of the novel. That the heroine was able to allow and encourage him to do it made me admire her when at first I despaired of her good qualities. I have found a copy of "The Disdainful Marquis" and will now read that to see if the Marquis of Bessacarr is able to put his experiences in this story to his advantage. A well written, passionate, deep and unusual story. I am so glad I read it - thank you, Edith Layton!
Rating:
Summary: A short but enthusiastic review for once
Review: is coming your way from me. I could rave on and on, especially about the first book (which reminds me in some ways of another favorite, Balogh's THE PLUMED BONNET) but I will leave you to read the detailed and fine reviews by others before me. If you love Regencies, and adore books with very strong character-driven stories (without any external fripperies such as spies, insane or villainous relatives, and the like), you will love both stories. I particularly recommend the first THE DUKE'S WAGER, where I started rooting for the less prepossessing candidate at some point in the story. Without any spoilers, let me just say I was so relieved when Regina made her choice. She didn't do badly for herself socially, but I think it was the better choice - both for her as a person (as she says at the end) and for the man involved. A little note - if you ever wondered about the sexual peccadilloes and orgies in the Regency period, read the first and last scenes, at least. Quite eye-opening, I assure you.
Rating:
Summary: A short but enthusiastic review for once
Review: is coming your way from me. I could rave on and on, especially about the first book (which reminds me in some ways of another favorite, Balogh's THE PLUMED BONNET) but I will leave you to read the detailed and fine reviews by others before me. If you love Regencies, and adore books with very strong character-driven stories (without any external fripperies such as spies, insane or villainous relatives, and the like), you will love both stories. I particularly recommend the first THE DUKE'S WAGER, where I started rooting for the less prepossessing candidate at some point in the story. Without any spoilers, let me just say I was so relieved when Regina made her choice. She didn't do badly for herself socially, but I think it was the better choice - both for her as a person (as she says at the end) and for the man involved. A little note - if you ever wondered about the sexual peccadilloes and orgies in the Regency period, read the first and last scenes, at least. Quite eye-opening, I assure you.
Rating:
Summary: Oh, joy!
Review: Oh, frabjous day! Thank you, Signet, for giving us this perfectly splendiferous double-dip, just in time for those hot summer days when reading the ultra-cool Ms. Layton is the perfect answer for what to do while lazing in a hammock under a big, green, leafy tree. Forget the champagne, you won't need it with this wonderful duo. Any time you feel the need to treat yourself to something truly splendid, there is no vintage as splendid as vintage Layton. THE DUKE'S WAGER is a re-issue of her very first book, and all the reasons for her continuing success swirl and bubble around the reader like the very finest of sparkling libations. Who else but Edith Layton could--or would?--write a Regency romance in which the supposed villain gets the girl? When Regina Berryman, a beautiful commoner with no family and no dowry, is left totally adrift by the death of her uncle, she is perceived as a target for the affections of two of the most attractive men in London--the Duke of Torquay, Jason Thomas, and the Marquis of Bessacarr, Sinjun St. Charles. One offers love, the other wants her for his mistress. Although men have, for centuries, made a near-crusade about male honor, it is Regina's own sense of honor which brings both men literally to their knees. Within the space of an hour, she receives the final accolade from each of them--a proposal of marriage. Regina has learned her lessons only too well, and makes the only possible choice. You'll want to thrust your fist in the air and shout, "YEESSSS!" when you come to the end of this book. But you don't have to wonder whatever happened to these stay-in-your-mind characters. Layton brings many of them into her subsequent books. LORD OF DISHONOR didn't follow the above book chronologically, but no matter. It's still a marvelous--and unusual--vintage. Amanda Amberley is visiting her mother when Christian Jarrow, Viscount North stops to visit. Her Mama, the Countess of Clovelly, who has had a stable relationship for lo, these many years with the Duke of Laxey, (in spite of having a husband of her own somewhere else) seizes the moment and misdirects the handsome young man to the blue room rather then the gray one where he was supposed to be. But then, the blue room is where Amanda has been tucked away. It's so hard to pay attention to these details, given the fact that the dashing young lord has one eye of blue and one of gray. So distracting. Especially when he smiles just so. Thus begins this tale of two splendidly handsome young folks, with outwardly not a care in the world. Inwardly, however--ah, that's a different story entirely. Being deprived of a loving family, of course that is the thing each most wants, and yet finds it the hardest to acquire. Edith Layton is a wordsmith deserving of that term. She uses words in a way that no other has--or does. She's long been one of my very favorites, if for no other reason than her incredibly enticing heroes. Indeed, this book contains my all-time favorite Layton line - ". . . the only task more difficult than seducing a lad of eighteen might be that of breathing in and out . . ."
Rating:
Summary: Oh, joy!
Review: Oh, frabjous day! Thank you, Signet, for giving us this perfectly splendiferous double-dip, just in time for those hot summer days when reading the ultra-cool Ms. Layton is the perfect answer for what to do while lazing in a hammock under a big, green, leafy tree. Forget the champagne, you won't need it with this wonderful duo. Any time you feel the need to treat yourself to something truly splendid, there is no vintage as splendid as vintage Layton. THE DUKE'S WAGER is a re-issue of her very first book, and all the reasons for her continuing success swirl and bubble around the reader like the very finest of sparkling libations. Who else but Edith Layton could--or would?--write a Regency romance in which the supposed villain gets the girl? When Regina Berryman, a beautiful commoner with no family and no dowry, is left totally adrift by the death of her uncle, she is perceived as a target for the affections of two of the most attractive men in London--the Duke of Torquay, Jason Thomas, and the Marquis of Bessacarr, Sinjun St. Charles. One offers love, the other wants her for his mistress. Although men have, for centuries, made a near-crusade about male honor, it is Regina's own sense of honor which brings both men literally to their knees. Within the space of an hour, she receives the final accolade from each of them--a proposal of marriage. Regina has learned her lessons only too well, and makes the only possible choice. You'll want to thrust your fist in the air and shout, "YEESSSS!" when you come to the end of this book. But you don't have to wonder whatever happened to these stay-in-your-mind characters. Layton brings many of them into her subsequent books. LORD OF DISHONOR didn't follow the above book chronologically, but no matter. It's still a marvelous--and unusual--vintage. Amanda Amberley is visiting her mother when Christian Jarrow, Viscount North stops to visit. Her Mama, the Countess of Clovelly, who has had a stable relationship for lo, these many years with the Duke of Laxey, (in spite of having a husband of her own somewhere else) seizes the moment and misdirects the handsome young man to the blue room rather then the gray one where he was supposed to be. But then, the blue room is where Amanda has been tucked away. It's so hard to pay attention to these details, given the fact that the dashing young lord has one eye of blue and one of gray. So distracting. Especially when he smiles just so. Thus begins this tale of two splendidly handsome young folks, with outwardly not a care in the world. Inwardly, however--ah, that's a different story entirely. Being deprived of a loving family, of course that is the thing each most wants, and yet finds it the hardest to acquire. Edith Layton is a wordsmith deserving of that term. She uses words in a way that no other has--or does. She's long been one of my very favorites, if for no other reason than her incredibly enticing heroes. Indeed, this book contains my all-time favorite Layton line - ". . . the only task more difficult than seducing a lad of eighteen might be that of breathing in and out . . ."
Rating: 
Summary: The Duke's Wager - deceptively intriguing
Review: So far I've only read The Duke's Wager; I'll be returning when I've read Lord of Dishonour. Edith Layton is a writer I missed, somehow, when discovering the best of American regency writers. And yet, in terms of being true to the period, both in relation to customs and manners *and* in relation to the atmosphere of the book, she is better than many. What most intrigues me about this book is the deception Layton practices on her readers. We are introduced to two men, the Marquess of Bessacar and the Duke of Torbay, one dark as the other is light in appearance, but we are led to believe that one is evil incarnate while the other is honourable and decent. However, Layton challenges this intial perception throughout the book, as well as challenging our own notions of good and evil. Which is the better, more honourable man? The one who pursues Regina openly with his declared intention to make her his mistress, or the one who offers her a safe haven and comfort while all the time plotting to offer her _carte blanche_? Another refreshingly different aspect of this book is that we are left uncertain for quite some time as to which man Regina would choose. Most romance novels, even where there is an attempt to set up a love triangle, fail miserably at creating this uncertainty: the author simply doesn't develop the character of the eventual loser well enough, or makes him appear too unworthy of the lady's hand. Not so in this case. And even though I'd worked out half-way through which man I wanted Regina to end up with, I was still unsure almost to the end of the book whether that was the outcome I would get. I ended up not entirely liking the loser in this wager, but from something another reviewer said I wonder whether he is revisited in another book? (Knowing my luck, it'll be out of print!) Far more, though, I liked and admired Amelia, St John's cousin. Now, I could wish to see a happy ending for her! I give this four stars rather than five for some irritating minor errors - such as calling the Marquis 'Your Grace', when that's a form of address reserved for dukes and bishops, and referring to Regina and Amelia as 'Lady Berry' and 'Lady Burden': neither was married, and so could not have a title attaching to their surnames. 'Lady Amelia' might have been accurate, however.. Yes, minor; but mistakes like that, when there are a lot of them, jerk me out of the story.
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